DAYTON, Ohio, March 16, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - For many segments of the population, the realm of demonic activity and exorcisms stays in the movie theater. But for many believers in the pro-life movement, the problem of dealing with evil is a practical question  and one that is taken very seriously.

In Dayton, Ohio, it has led one local 40 Days for Life leader to obtain permission from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to have priests join their prayers outside the Womens Med Center on Sunday with specific prayers to drive away evil presences from the area. Anthony Hopkins, praying an exorcist priest, says prayers of exorcism in the movie 'The Rite'.

Hopefully, the spiritual battle will be won, Ruth Deddens, an organizer with 40 Days for Life in Dayton, told the Dayton Daily News.

Deddens had asked Rev. Steve J. Angi, chancellor of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati, for permission to have priests come and pray an exorcism of locality. In the Catholic Church, although lay persons may pray unofficial prayers of deliverance, official rites of exorcism requires an ordained priest acting under the permission of his bishop.

Although workers at the clinic did not offer comment, Rick Pender, spokesman for Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, told the Daily News that the pro-life group has a right to free speech.

We dont agree that were doing something evil. Were providing a service that is needed and appreciated by a lot of people, he said.

Calls to Deddens were not returned by press time.

Deddens idea was not her own - it was modeled off the successful exorcism campaign in Rockford, Illinois, where a bizarre anti-Christian abortion clinic finally closed its doors this year.

Rockford pro-life leader Kevin Rilott told LifeSiteNews.com that when a local group of priests was granted permission by the Rockford diocese to regularly pray exorcism prayers outside the Northern Illinois Womens Center (NIWC), the change was unmistakable.

We saw a huge change at this clinic. The number of abortions went down, the number of saves went up, said Rilott. The moment they began saying these prayers was the beginning of the end of this clinic.

By the time the Rockford clinic closed following the revelation of serious health violations, NIWC had become notorious for its anti-Christian signage, including a nun in a coffin, a crucified rubber chicken, and personalized slogans insulting pro-life witnesses outside. One sign suggested that NIWC had killed 50,000 children while JC, or Jesus Christ, had only saved 50.

Often priests would pray by themselves, said Rilott, but at times all four would surround the building on its four sides and say the exorcism prayers together, at which time Rilott said the clinic owner, known to pro-lifers for his habit of taunting the opposition, always responded predictably - immediately leaving the building until the prayers wrapped up.

"Often priests would pray by themselves, said Rilott, but at times all four would surround the building on its four sides and say the exorcism prayers together, at which time Rilott said the clinic owner, known to pro-lifers for his habit of taunting the opposition, always responded predictably - immediately leaving the building until the prayers wrapped up."

I think this is the first time in my life where a fact that was so unsurprising, even predictable, sent chills up my spine.

I have mixed feelings about this. Sure, they should go ahead and recite the prayers, but this is not a case of innocent possession. The abortionists are deliberately and intentionally doing the devil’s work. I believe an exorcism can not be successful when the individual desires the possession.

People screech at you. You can see the rage. The worst "counter-demonstrators" I ever saw was a group of about five people who looked like extras from "Dawn of the Dead." They carried dirty signs that read (I'm not making this up) "Kill Jesus" and "Eat Babies."

Sure, they should go ahead and recite the prayers, but this is not a case of innocent possession. The abortionists are deliberately and intentionally doing the devils work. I believe an exorcism can not be successful when the individual desires the possession.

Good point, but some are actually ignorant, i.e. the non-medical help.

Regardless, I believe that this is akin to expelling demons from a home.

From the old Catholic Encyclopedia:

Other exorcisms

According to Catholic belief demons or fallen angels retain their natural power, as intelligent beings, of acting on the material universe, and using material objects and directing material forces for their own wicked ends; and this power, which is in itself limited, and is subject, of course, to the control of Divine providence, is believed to have been allowed a wider scope for its activity in the consequence of the sin of mankind.

Hence places and things as well as persons are naturally liable to diabolical infestation, within limits permitted by God, and exorcism in regard to them is nothing more that a prayer to God, in the name of His Church, to restrain this diabolical power supernaturally, and a profession of faith in His willingness to do so on behalf of His servants on earth.

The chief things formally exorcised in blessing are water, salt, oil, and these in turn are used in personal exorcisms, and in blessing or consecrating places (e.g. churches) and objects (e.g. altars, sacred vessels, church bells) connected with public worship, or intended for private devotion. Holy water, the sacramental with which the ordinary faithful are most familiar, is a mixture of exorcised water and exorcised salt; and in the prayer of blessing, God is besought to endow these material elements with a supernatural power of protecting those who use them with faith against all the attacks of the devil. This kind of indirect exorcism by means of exorcised objects is an extension of the original idea; but it introduces no new principle, and it has been used in the Church from the earliest ages.

Yes, that is why I am in favor of the exorcism. There is always the chance it will expel a demon from an individual who was involved somehow but not in the spotlight and maybe not fully cognizant. Or a devil hiding in the corner somewhere akin to the home.

As I understand it--- and somebody correct me if I'm wrong -- true possession cannot occur unless the person gives Satan an invitation or permission in some form.

The person may not have full knowledge or full consent in this "permission" --- i.e. a kid could be drunk and say "OK, I'm on Satan's team" or just half-jokingly perform some stupid act of sacrilege --- but basically, Satan cannot overpower and possess a person completely against their will.

Satan can "oppress" or "attack" an innocent unwilling person, but he does not have the power to "possess" an innocent unwilling person.

Most evil has got to be the result of the ‘”oppress” or “attack”’ kind of diabolical influence; true, all-in type possession may be fairly rare, who knows. I’m pretty sure exorcism puts the kibosh on all of these. Probably every single person other than Mary has at some point done something or entertained some thought that the devil could construe as an invitation for at least some dirty dancing, if not full possession.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.